For home and business owners recovering from fire, flood or mold damage, managing the restoration process can be a tricky task. Logistics—timing, deliveries and deadlines—are often secondary considerations which deserve primary focus. From restoration subcontractors to hazard mitigation specialists and insurance inquiries, a rebuilding or restoration plan is necessary after building damage.
One of the largest and most neglected concerns is that of post-emergency storage. Depending on the type of damage sustained, materials must be shifted, cycled through and stored in strategic areas. This includes the proper disposal of destroyed items, holding areas for recoverable property, and storage options for project materials, tools and equipment. Logistics can require a great deal of time and money to manage.
Innovative restoration companies utilize creative storage solutions for their supplies and their clients’ recovered property. The use of portable storage units is a smart storage strategy after fire or water damage because the building’s contents don’t need to moved to a remote facility; then it must most be moved back again. Even today, many professionals in the mitigation industry recommend portable storage for temporary storage of goods and valuables.
The team at BluSky Restoration Contractors is no exception. As a leading voice in the mitigation and restoration industry for many years, the company often uses portable storage units as a creative way to help their clients navigate business storage and beyond. “Storage is always the hardest part of the job, especially for clients who are just recovering from a disaster,” Mike Erekson, Chief Operating Officer for BluSky Restoration said in a recent interview. “They have a lot more to worry about than just the state of their buildings, which is why item storage so often gets pushed to the wayside. That’s one of the many reasons we recommend the use of portable storage. They’re a simple, smart storage option with ready availability in emergency situations.”
PODS, also known as Portable On Demand Storage, provide a storage option with white-glove service for struggling home and business owners. The unique service seamlessly combines products (large storage containers) and services (property safeguarding and removal) in one package. PODS are widely used, specifically in remodeling or disaster relief efforts. The PODS are versatile, and apart from storage during a move, they are often used in response to the following home or business needs:
- Emergency disaster response
- Addressing water damage
- Heavy storm or wind damage
- Fire and smoke damage
- Mold remediation repair
- Wood rot restoration
Portable storage allow for both speed and efficiency at a disaster site, quickly shifting personal property off the scene and into temporary storage. Items can still be accessed at will and are kept in a secure location that reduces risks associated with vandalism and burglary.
Beyond personal property, Portable storage can also be used to store on-site building supplies and materials. An easy retrieval system reduces obstacles in work times and live construction hours, increasing productivity. The safe storage reduces outside access to tools, equipment and building supplies. Moreover, restoration companies can quickly schedule pickups, deliveries and additional logistics directly from the job site.
Many other companies espouse the use of portable storage in subcontracting workflows due to the load-as-you-go pacing. By reducing risks and deadlines, property owners can pack up their remaining items at a time convenient to them—in a matter of days or over the span of several weeks. Fast access to stored materials allows owners to weed through damaged and non-damaged items as well as identify repair opportunities.
Businesses may find that self-storage portable storage are an excellent method of storing inventory while waiting on restoration companies. Sensitive merchandise, long-term products, and even company-specific materials can be packed away in portable storage stored on or off site. These portable storage containers help reduce closure times and downed profit margins by streamlining access to materials for online orders or occasional customers. The widespread use of portable storage may even help improve delivery logistics and recovery time frames.
As your mitigation company stores their overnight materials, tools and supplies, they may consider keeping items on site with portable units also. These systems reduce the amount of time that Blusky’s subcontractors spend loading and unloading their materials each day. Further, they reduce the labor costs and man hours for unloading supplies. Hours saved from unnecessary labor can speed up a project’s completion time, streamlining the logistics of the restoration process.
Portable storage containers are extremely resistant to heat, cold and mold, allowing them to be used during any time of the year. In the aftermath of extreme weather or the threat of additional property concerns, storage containers are built to withstand the elements.
Depending on the manufacturer, some portable storage programs have built-in restoration properties that assist property owners in addressing immediate disasters. This advanced technology converts individual portable storage into an emergency response zone capable of drying the contents of the container or creating a layer of ozone to remove scent or smoke. Remediation responses save property owners thousands of dollars and protect the remnants of their personal and inventory items. They can also reduce the risk of insurance delays or denials.
Although the purchase and use of a portable storage system may not be right for everyone, the program provides unique benefits to subcontractors, restoration professionals and home or business owners. If you are preparing to undergo renovations for disaster-related reasons, it may be wise to consider Portable storage as an element of your logistics plan.
